The tracking team at Lingxu Market was surrounded by the remnants of the "Dark Alliance," who had successfully cultivated the "Dark Rift Technique," creating an extremely tense atmosphere. The elders of the "Netherworld Palace" and the experts from the Blood Blade Sect had fierce glints in their eyes; they harbored resentment for the tracking team's disruption of their cultivation and were determined to kill them all.

"Hmph, you think you can get away unscathed after disrupting our cultivation? Today is your doom!" the Blood Blade Sect expert said viciously. He stretched out his hand, and the "Ice Soul Frost Crystal Sword" seemed to be summoned, breaking free from the captain's hand and flying back into his. With the sword in hand, the Blood Blade Sect expert felt even more confident, radiating a chilling killing intent.

The tracking team leader's expression was grave. He knew the situation was critical, but he remained calm. "Don't panic, everyone. We still have a chance. Maintain the sword formation and find a breakthrough," the leader said in a low voice, his eyes sweeping firmly over his team members.

The sword cultivators quickly adjusted their sword formation. The "Spirit Concealing Ice-Breaking Sword Formation" shimmered with light, and sword energy swirled within it, ready to defend against any attack from the "Dark Alliance." The members of the "Dark Alliance" were also in no hurry to attack. They slowly paced around the tracking team, like a pack of hungry wolves toying with their prey, enjoying the thrill of the impending kill.

The elder of the "Netherworld Palace" launched the first attack, his hands rapidly forming hand seals while he chanted incantations. Instantly, black mist rose from beneath his feet, and within the mist, grotesque ghost faces vaguely appeared, lunging towards the tracking team. These ghost faces emitted shrill cries, attempting to erode the sword cultivators' spiritual power and will.

"Don't be distracted, defend with all your might!" the captain shouted. The sword cultivators poured their spiritual energy into the sword formation, which shone brightly, forming a five-colored light screen that blocked the black mist. The mist struck the light screen, making a "sizzling" sound, but the light screen remained stable.

Seeing this, the Bloodblade Sect expert wielded the "Ice Soul Frost Crystal Sword" and unleashed the "Ice Soul Myriadfold Slash". Countless icy blue sword energies shot towards the tracking team like a torrential rain. Wherever the sword energies passed, the ground was cut into countless holes, and the surrounding trees were frozen.

The tracking team's sword formation trembled violently under the impact of the sword energy, and cracks appeared on the light barrier. The sword cultivators gritted their teeth and resisted with all their might, but some sword energy still broke through the light barrier and struck the sword cultivators at the edge of the sword formation. The sword cultivators groaned, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, but they remained steadfast at their posts, without the slightest hesitation.

"This can't go on. We must take the initiative and break their encirclement!" a sword cultivator shouted.

The captain nodded in agreement: "Okay, follow my command. Let's concentrate our forces and attack in one direction, then charge out!"

The sword cultivators concentrated the power of their sword formation on one side, unleashing the ultimate move, "Sword Piercing the Sky." A massive, five-colored sword aura blasted towards the encirclement of the "Dark Alliance." Seeing this, the members of the "Dark Alliance" scrambled to avoid it. The sword aura struck the ground, blasting a huge crater and temporarily creating an opening.

"Charge!" At the captain's command, the tracking team rushed towards the gap. However, the members of the "Dark Alliance" reacted quickly, and the disciples of the "Ten Thousand Poisons Sect" threw out poison bottles, and poisonous mist instantly spread, attempting to block the tracking team's path.

"Quick, use the 'Purifying Spirit Bottle'!" the captain shouted. The Wanbaoge disciple in the squad swiftly took out the "Purifying Spirit Bottle," releasing purifying spiritual power to cleanse the poisonous mist. The tracking squad continued their charge, seemingly about to break through the encirclement.

Just then, the Bloodblade Sect expert flashed into view, appearing in front of the tracking team. He wielded the "Ice Soul Frost Crystal Sword," unleashing a massive ice-blue sword beam that slashed towards the team. The sword beam contained immense power, seemingly capable of shattering everything in its path.

"It's over!" a sword cultivator cried out in despair.

At this critical moment, a mysterious light suddenly descended from the sky, striking the sword aura of the Blood Blade Sect expert. The light collided with the sword aura, unleashing a dazzling brilliance, and the powerful spiritual energy fluctuations forced the Blood Blade Sect expert and the tracking team back several steps.

"What's going on?" The members of the "Dark Alliance" looked at the sky in surprise.

The tracking team was also puzzled, wondering where the light came from. Just as everyone was surprised, a figure slowly descended from the sky. This person was dressed in white, with snow-white hair, a kind face, but his eyes revealed a sense of majesty.

“You wicked people have been committing all sorts of evil deeds in the Southern Wilderness. Today I will punish you!” said the old man in white.

"Who are you? Mind your own business!" the Bloodblade Sect expert roared.

The old man in white smiled slightly: "I am the guardian of the Southern Wilderness. This land will not be allowed to be destroyed at will."

It turns out that there has always been a mysterious guardian in the Southern Wilderness. He noticed the evil deeds of the "Dark Alliance" members in the Southern Wilderness and the crisis faced by the tracking team, so he stepped in to help.

The elder of the Netherworld Palace sneered, "You think you can stop us?" After saying that, he exchanged a glance with the Blood Blade Sect expert, and the two of them launched an attack at the same time, rushing towards the white-robed old man.

The white-robed elder remained calm. With his hands behind his back, he lightly flicked his sleeve, and a powerful spiritual energy barrier appeared, blocking the attacks from the two members of the "Dark Alliance." The attacks from the Blood Blade Sect expert and the Netherworld Palace elder struck the barrier, but were utterly ineffective, like mud sinking into the sea.

"Your strength is too weak," the white-robed elder said calmly.

Seeing this, the members of the "Dark Alliance" swarmed around, preparing to attack the white-robed elder together. The white-robed elder glanced around, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes: "A bunch of fools who don't know their own mortality."

He chanted incantations, his hands rapidly forming hand seals. Instantly, countless golden runes appeared in the sky, shimmering with dazzling light, and rained down upon the members of the "Dark Alliance." Wherever the runes touched, the members of the "Dark Alliance" screamed in agony; their bodies seemed to be bound by an invisible force, rendering them unable to move.

"Ah! What kind of magic is this? Let us go!" the disciples of the "Ten Thousand Poisons Sect" cried out in terror.

The old man in white ignored their screams and turned to the tracking team, saying, "You can go now, I'll handle things here."

The leader of the tracking team said gratefully, "Thank you so much for saving my life, senior. May I ask your honorable name?"

The old man in white smiled and said, "No need to ask any more questions. Go back and tell the people in the Lingxu Market that the Southern Wilderness is fraught with danger, and tell them not to venture there lightly again."

The leader of the tracking team nodded in agreement, and then led his team members to quickly leave the Southern Wilderness.

The white-robed elder looked at the members of the "Dark Alliance," a hint of pity flashing in his eyes: "You have committed numerous evils; today, you shall receive your punishment here." With that, he waved his hands, and golden runes shone brightly, enveloping the members of the "Dark Alliance." When the light faded, the members of the "Dark Alliance" had vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there at all.

After the tracking team returned to the Lingxu Market, they recounted their experiences in the Southern Wilderness to Lin Yang in detail. Upon learning this, Lin Yang felt both grateful for the white-robed elder's help and gained a deeper understanding of the dangers of the Southern Wilderness.

"It seems that many unknown dangers and mysterious forces are hidden in the Southern Wilderness. We must be more careful to prevent the remnants of the 'Dark Alliance' from causing trouble again," Lin Yang said to the leaders of the various factions.

The leaders of each faction nodded in agreement. The people of Lingxu Market began to reflect on the incident and strengthen their own power and defenses. Wanbao Pavilion continued to research and develop even more powerful magical artifacts, Lingjian Sect intensified the training of its sword cultivators, and Linghe Chamber of Commerce further improved its intelligence network.